Russia's Ekho Moskvy Hit With Official Warning

Russian radio station Ekho Moskvy has received an official warning over a program the station aired about Ukraine.

Ekho Moskvy said on its website late October 31 it had received the warning from the Russian government's communications watchdog, Roskomadzor.

The warning cited the station's interviews with two journalists who provided first-hand accounts of fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Roskomadzor said the program contained "information justifying war crimes."

Ekho Moskvy Editor in Chief Aleksei Venediktov rejected the claim and said the station would appeal the warning.

Under Russian law, Ekho Moskvy could be closed down if it receives two warnings in one year.

In late October, Ekho Moskvy was given less than 48 hours-notice of a snap inspection, at the request of the Emergency Situations Ministry, to ensure the station's facilities met all fire safety requirements.